If you think there was a special glow and warmth between Mary and the woman who hugged her earlier today, there is a simple explanation:

It was her old neighbour.
And it was a complete surprise for Mary that she was there to greet her.

Melanie Cleary is her name and she grew up in the house next door to Mary's family home in Hobart where they forged a close relationship. Ms Cleary's mother died four months ago and she was touched to receive a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from Mary and Frederik. "I thanked her for the bunch of flowers she and Frederick sent when my mother died. She said 'you are welcome, and we are thinking of you.''

what a very lovely story. It must have been so touching to receive flowers from Mary and Frederik, even when they live so far away

Quote:

Originally Posted by princess gertrude

That was a nice gesture on Mary's part. I suppose my question would be, why is Frederik standing there with his hands in his pockets not shaking hands?? I know that most people probably came to see Mary, but he could have made an effort.

I saw in one of the videos that Frederik tries to get the little girls attention but they seem consumed by Mary lol.

I've seen alot of royal men with their hands in their pockets, i think its just a natural thing.

Funny quote from one of the articles
"Prince Harry may have brought the charm, during his whirlwind visit early this month, but our own Mary and her Danish stud brought the grace and elegance to Sydney's seemingly month-long celebration of all things Royal."
I guess people agree with me that Frederik is a stud
And its beautiful that they still call her "our Mary"

Another beautiful day here in Sydney - coming up to 7.00am Friday morning - and no sign of the bushfires down here.

I've just had the chance to have a proper look at my photos from yesterday, and am amazed at how many duds I got, but even more how many really nice shots I have.

(Everyone is moving all the time of course, and I'm lining up my camera, but also juggling my glasses to actually enjoy seeing it all. Hard work!)

Now I've "blown up" my photos, I can see M and F together on the yacht. F steering and M standing beside him with her hand on his shoulder. Many photos of them together, and everyone else on board below decks, giving them some space I guess.

They must be enjoying this trip - sparkling sun, sparkling water.

I'll see what I can do about posting some - easy if you know how I guess, but I'm the pre-technolgy generation!

Its lovely to see the warm welcome they receive......their thoughts and wellwishes to the bushfire affected will bring some comfort after the fires have gone.
I was in the recent Tasmanian fires and at the time your focus is on what is happening around you but afterwards I remember feeling touched by her and Freds well wishes.
Her story about her childhood friend and sending her a bouquet is a very Tasmanian way. Being an island state it can almost feel like a country in its sheer isolation. Its a very close community, an open and genuine way to living there that is unique to Tassie and you always keep your connections made no matter how far away you travel or where you end up.
I have often thought that the experience of Denmark and her role as a royal reminds me of that sense of community that one has living in Tassie and I feel that might be in part why Mary has been able to immerse herself so successfully.
Denmark is really fortunate to have scored her for their future queen consort. She will become one of the countries most valuable assets as time goes on.

Another beautiful day here in Sydney - coming up to 7.00am Friday morning - and no sign of the bushfires down here.

I've just had the chance to have a proper look at my photos from yesterday, and am amazed at how many duds I got, but even more how many really nice shots I have.

(Everyone is moving all the time of course, and I'm lining up my camera, but also juggling my glasses to actually enjoy seeing it all. Hard work!)

Now I've "blown up" my photos, I can see M and F together on the yacht. F steering and M standing beside him with her hand on his shoulder. Many photos of them together and everyone else on board below decks giving them some space I guess.

They must be enjoying this trip - sparkling sun, sparkling water.

I'll see what I can do about posting some - easy if you know how I guess, but I'm the pre-technolgy generation!

Cheers for Now, Sun Lion.

Once again Sun Lion, thank you for your hands on accounts.
I would love to see the pictures of them on the boat
Glad they can get some time for themselves

Its lovely to see the warm welcome they receive......their thoughts and wellwishes to the bushfire affected will bring some comfort after the fires have gone.
I was in the recent Tasmanian fires and at the time your focus is on what is happening around you but afterwards I remember feeling touched by her and Freds well wishes.
Her story about her childhood friend and sending her a bouquet is a very Tasmanian way. Being an island state it can almost feel like a country in its sheer isolation. Its a very close community, an open and genuine way to living there that is unique to Tassie and you always keep your connections made no matter how far away you travel or where you end up.
I have often thought that the experience of Denmark and her role as a royal reminds me of that sense of community that one has living in Tassie and I feel that might be in part why Mary has been able to immerse herself so successfully.
Denmark is really fortunate to have scored her for their future queen consort. She will become one of the countries most valuable assets as time goes on.

Totally agree with you helenbee - I'm Tasmanian too - found things very different when I moved to the mainland. People looked shocked if I struck up a conversation, out of the blue, with them, and I thought it was normal to talk to strangers.

"Weekend Sunrise" is advertising a M and F roundup report tomorrow morning - might be nice to record as a summary of these first few days if you're an Oz follower.

P.S. CP Frederick being referred to as "Prince Fred" on morning news - we obviously think you're one of us Frederik.

Cheers, Sun Lion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by polyesco

Once again Sun Lion, thank you for your hands on accounts.
I would love to see the pictures of them on the boat
Glad they can get some time for themselves

Hi polyesco, will see what I can do over the weekend - when hubby here to sort me out.

There weren't any official photographers taking pictures of this - and I think it might have been officially off-limits - so no media boats would be allowed to chase them about.

Earlier, I'd overheard some media people complaining about having to be "accredited" to be allowed to be there, while all us "punters" where taking the same snaps next to them.

Husband just walked in, back from the gym with today's "Telegraph". Half page photo of M and F on front page- headline "Mary, Mary quite the dignitary". Double page colour spread on pages 2 an 3.

I'll have to read it later - thinking of going in to today's city events. My last chance to see it all for myself.

Amazing Day - Started Out Missing CP Mary- Ended Up Meeting Patricia, Jane and Amber.

Isn't life funny. I spent too long at the breakfast table this morning, having extra toast and peanut butter - knowing I'd be trying to see CP Mary around lunchtime, and not wanting to be hungry - that I arrived at the Opera House just as the official party went inside, and so missed them.

Now I've just got home after meeting CP Mary's sisters Jane and Patricia, and her friend Amber.

And, another funny thing, I actually spoke with Patricia yesterday, not really thinking it was her, and she remembered me today and said so.

Lovely, lovely people. They didn't have to give strangers in the street the time of day, but they were just so easy-going and friendly. Didn't mind having their photo taken, didn't rush away.

Both Patricia and Jane were very chic, in black like CP Mary. (And both so lean and fit looking.) Amber was in blue, setting off her blonde hair.

There was another lady in the group who's face I must have seen in photos somewhere, but I couldn't think of her name at the time.

All this was at the Ole Lynggaard opening in the city centre.

And talk about being in Australia - not only was CP Mary shown on several channels/news programs last night shooing that fly off the face of the older lady she was talking to at the Opera House, but the jewellery shop opening today had the added excitment of a very noisy cockatoo screeching away at all the action from a banner pole just above everyone's heads, at one stage.

(I also got a demonstration of CP Mary's hand-shake from a person who got to shake CP Mary's hand at the store opening today - firm grip, one shake down. Quite effective - try it with someone.)

So, to start at the beginning -

- as I realised yesterday, the royal party don't let the grass grow under their feet.

I only just made it to the Opera House on time yesterday, and no dilly-dallying, there they were today, about 10 minutes before the official start time of 10.00am.

Eight very smart out-riders all lined up, still sitting on their motor-cycles - to attention as it were. They all dismounted in unison, and changed their helmets for slick caps and sun-glasses. Little flags on the front of their bikes.

(Speaking of which, if you have caught sight of the wonderful three-masted vessel sitting in Farm Cove, on the Botanical Gardens side of the Opera House, in yesterday's photos - I heard today that it belongs to the person who is behind the jewellery store.)

A group of people were against the barrier, underneath the Monumental Steps where the vehicles were also parked yesterday. By the time I got there though, the Royals had just stepped inside.

I wasn't upset though, as I thought I'd had a pretty amazing day yesterday, and there was still the chance to see something at the store opening.

As noted earlier, Sydney turned it on again today - just absolutely perfect weather, hot sun, cool breeze. So I tossed up whether to chance seeing CP Mary leaving, or go ahead of her, to be at the store when she arrived.

Well, I made the right decision. I stayed at the Opera House as it was wonderful in the Harbour breeze there, and there is quite a bit of seating looking out to the water. After a while, I took a wander about, thinking, I'll try and see CP Mary leave, then I won't see her arriving at the store, but will get up there in time to see her leave that too.

But, something better happened.

You know, the whole area down there is just a beehive of activity at the moment.

The stage area for the Gala Concert is huge. (I met an American couple today who where on a tour of the Opera House yesterday, and as part of that, got to sit in on some of the rehearsal for this event. They kept saying how wonderful the performance was.)

An enormous equipment road-train vehicle almost got stuck trying to get around all the stage set up area.

The Royal Party's escorts and vehicles were there and many, many, many food trucks were delivering for tonight's Reception.

Who knew there was a business in Sydney that just deals in North Alaskan crab, and another that just does soup, and another that just does "dips, salsa and desserts".

Add to that the De Costi's Seafood truck - enormous - and the towering pallet of champagne waiting on the side, and everyone is going to have an truely wonderful time tonight.

If you know the type of dog the character Bill Sykes had in the old "Oliver Twist" movie - well a dog like that was in one of the delivery vans, sitting in the driver's seat ,with the window down, taking as much interest in all the action as I was. He/she was very well behaved. (So was I, by the way!)

Well during all this action - and that includes tourists trying to cross the concourse against strict instruction to stay where they are, as a vehicle is on the move and about to flatten them - I overheard a lady say to someone, that they'd just come from further up on the bottom, open section of the Opera House. I looked that way and could see a small group gathering, so went for a wander to see what was happening, and wow! - the Royal Party had just exited the Opera House at that point, and were doing official photos in the sunshine.

Boy did I jump in there and snap, snap, snap away. Got some really lovely shots - the group with M and F and then the Royal Couple on their own.

(Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore was there also.)

So glad I had decided to stay and take the chance to see CP Mary leave - which I now no longer needed to wait for, so I shot up Macqurie St, cut across the park and managed to see the complete jewellery store function and get some nice photos of that.

So, after CP Mary and her LIW Tanya had left, I decided to hang around as I recognised Amber when I was photographing the group outside the shop. A lot of people where still in the store, but the crowds had moved on.

Amber and a group of well-turned out ladies came out onto the footpath - everyone was really dressed up. Wonderful to see. Then I noticed Jane and Patricia.

A fellow fan I had met yesterday saw me and came up, and thank goodness, as I was too shy to talk to them and this lady didn't know who they were. After I told her, she asked if she could photograph them and Amber and her girlfriends happily circled up.

I remember Amber describing CP Mary's hair as "divine" and saying "we all love her" and how nice a person she is, amongst many other comments now gone from my mind.

Then my new friend spoke with Patricia and Jane and we got some photos of them.

Jane asked me if I was "a fan of Princess Mary".

Patricia asked me if I was at the Opera House yesterday, and when I said yes, she explained that she recognised me from when we spoke then. I told her I remembered her, and thought at the time how I thought she looked like who in fact she was, but hadn't said so - really glad to know it was actually her after all. Wouldn't have known it if we hadn't run into each other today.

(When a small group was waiting at the Man O' War steps yesterday, a lady and her partner came up and asked us what was going on. I thought "gee, you look like CP Mary's sister Patricia", but I didn't say so as I thought it couldn't be.)

Hi Patricia if you ever come across this post.

The lady I was with also ended up photographing, and chatting with, the Danish store owners and they signed a book about their jewellery and gave it to her.

Everyone was just so wonderfully nice, the whole experience couldn't have been better.

I'll be back if I can sort out the posting of photos, otherwise I'm sure you'll all be aware of the happenings here as we head into a party weekend.

These few days have been great fun. Glad to be able to share things via this Forum.

Channel 9 has just announced - on the 6pm news - that the Royal Couple will be visiting the fire affected area of Winmalee on Sunday.

(The Governor General was in the Blue Mts. today.)

Sun Lion.

P.S. The NSW Premier is encouraging Sydney-siders to travel to the lower Blue Mts. this weekend, to help the tourism operators there who have sufferred loss of business.

PP.S. Footage of tonight's big Reception at the Opera House now also being broadcast.

PPP.S. Also reporting that 1/2 an hour before CP Mary arrived at the Ole Lynggaard store, police and tradesmen went through the street using angle-grinders to cut away the metallic garbage street bins - to negate any terrorist/bomb threats.

Thanks for all the article and pictures from today Looks like another fantastic day for Mary and Frederik Down Under and for all the people around them. Love that the young Mosman girls described meeting Mary this morning as "better than going to see One Direction."

And again, thanks so much for your really great hands on accounts, Sun Lion It's so great we can follow the visit like this. And good grief, what some experiences you get! Bumping into Jane, Patricia and Amber and talk to them. So great for you, nice they are so easy-going and friendly.

Thanks for all the article and pictures from today Looks like another fantastic day for Mary and Frederik Down Under and for all the people around them. Love that the young Mosman girls described meeting Mary this morning as "better than going to see One Direction."

And again, thanks so much for your really great hands on accounts, Sun Lion It's so great we can follow the visit like this. And good grief, what some experiences you get! Bumping into Jane, Patricia and Amber and talk to them. So great for you, nice they are so easy-going and friendly.

Hi Roskilde. Yes. Would have been great just to see them, but really amazing to find out first-hand what super-nice people they are.

Spanish Hola has published a picture of Frederik and Mary out on the water sailing on Sydney harbor yesterday. I can see Mary steers the boat (with a good teacher by her side) We know Frederik is a master of steering a boat, but how it went for Mary the history tells nothing about. But Mary has previously won over Frederik in races, so I'm sure she knows what she does

It's an article from DR1 about the Mary effect in relation to the Danish export to Australia.

Since Mary got engaged to Frederik in 2003 the exports has been more than doubled to Australia and that is a bigger growth than the export to European countries in the same period.

Ole Lynggaard the manager for the jewellery company says: "We are pleased that the Crown Princess will come and create awareness around our brand by inaugurating our store. I do of course realise that the many people probably don't show up because they want to see our store, but because of the Crown Princess, but it difinetely helps in making us visible".

Jens Holst-Olsen, who is managing director for Danish Industry (the largest business organisation in DK), says: "With Mary the Australians have put Denmark on the map. That has made them interested in what we have to offer - and that has led them to ask for Danish goods".

And it goes the other way too. He continues: "Danish businesses have become aware that there is a brand new market, which is easily accessible, because our culture and and way of life is very similar".

Jan Utzon, the son of the architect, is here quoted for his view on how the Australians percieve Mary, I'll leave it to our Aussie friends to judge whether he is off the mark or not.
"To the Australians is it of big significanse that the CP couple is here. To them Crown Princess Mary is practically their queen, so it's lovely/nice that she together with the Crown Princess has agreed to become a part of the celebration of the opera house".

An Australian reporter is here explaining the Aussie view to DR1: "Mary is insanely popular, because she is one of us. She's from tasmania, she has been working here, the couple met each other during the Olympics in 200 and the Australians are in the habit of claiming those who are something special internationally, so of course Mary is our Crown Princess".

It's an article from DR1 about the Mary effect in relation to the Danish export to Australia.

Since Mary got engaged to Frederik in 2003 the exports has been more than doubled to Australia and that is a bigger growth than the export to European countries in the same period.

Ole Lynggaard the manager for the jewellery company says: "We are pleased that the Crown Princess will come and create awareness around our brand by inaugurating our store. I do of course realise that the many people probably don't show up because they want to see our store, but because of the Crown Princess, but it difinetely helps in making us visible".

Jens Holst-Olsen, who is managing director for Danish Industry (the largest business organisation in DK), says: "With Mary the Australians have put Denmark on the map. That has made them interested in what we have to offer - and that has led them to ask for Danish goods".

And it goes the other way too. He continues: "Danish businesses have become aware that there is a brand new market, which is easily accessible, because our culture and and way of life is very similar".

Very nice to read.
Im sure Danish Businesses are quite pleased.

A quote from Frederik about the firefighters dealing with the huge brush fires (something that we have dealt with in San Diego, California as well)

"I would also like to express my deepest thoughts to the firemen and firefighters who are still fighting bravely to conquer and fight the fires, My deepest respect goes to those heroes."
— Crown Prince Frederik praising the the firefighters who are battling the bushfires in NSW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muhler

BT has the details on the story of Mary giving an autograph to a school boy.
That is very, very unusual. The DRF practically never give autographs.
It has indeed happened, but it's very rare.Apparantly M&F discussed it briefly before Mary signed the magazine.

"On the occasion of the Opera House in Sydney's 40th anniversary attended royal couple on Friday 25 October launch of the exchange program "MADE by the Opera House " and the opening of arkitektursymposiet " Architecture makes the City" as part of the Danish cultural events .

HRH Crown Prince gave a speech during the official launch of the exchange program "MADE by the Opera House " and opening arkitektursymposiet " Architecture makes the City" in continuation of , among others, the Danish Minister of Culture Jelved and director of the Opera House Louise Herron .

In his speech, said Crown Prince include :
"MADE exchange program will form an important platform for interdisciplinary interaction between students in architecture , design and engineering. A platform that can help to materialize magnificent dreams and while stressing the good relations between our two countries . "

Spanish Hola has published a picture of Frederik and Mary out on the water sailing on Sydney harbor yesterday. I can see Mary steers the boat (with a good teacher by her side) We know Frederik is a master of steering a boat, but how it went for Mary the history tells nothing about. But Mary has previously won over Frederik in races, so I'm sure she knows what she does